he end of the school
year and commencement.Vineland High School South's top scholars were officially recognized Wednesday at the school’s annual Moving Up ceremony, held in the gymnasium.
In all, 176 students were honored for academic excellence at the annual event,
which officially begins the rush of activities surrounding the end of the school
year and commencement.
“This is a special day for Vineland High School,” said Dr. Thomas McCann, VHS South Principal, serving as host of this event for the first time. “This is an event deep in history and tradition. It is a day where we honor the students who have worked so hard, and accomplished so much, during their years in our school. These students richly deserve these accolades and bring great pride to themselves and their families – as well as our school and the community at large.”
The Class of 2007 boasts 58 Summa Cum Laude scholars with grade-point averages of 3.75 to 4.0 (All A’s) or above. Students can surpass the 4.0 mark through outstanding performance in Advanced Placement (Honors) courses. Another 27 students were Magna Cum Laude scholars with a 3.5 to 3.75 GPA. Ninety-one were Cum Laude scholars with a 3.0 to 3.49 GPA.
In all, 639 students are expected to receive diplomas at the school’s 129th Commencement Exercises, scheduled for June 13 at Gittone Stadium. Leading the way were Vijeta Limbekar, Valedictorian and Aneesh Jain, salutatorian.
Limbekar is the daughter of Satish and Nagaratna Limbekar. At VHS, Limbekar is a member of the National Honor Society, Academic Team and Wizardry 101 group. During her high school career, she has been an active volunteer for the Red Cross and South Jersey Regional Medical Center, and has also been active in political affairs. She is also a Golden Gate Tutor and mentor, providing academic assistance and tutoring for primary and secondary subjects. Limbekar will attend Boston University and major in math. She was also accepted by Rutgers and The College of New Jersey.
Jain is the son of Mr. Arun and Dr. Archna Jain. His list of school activities includes Varsity Tennis, Varsity Debate, Cap n’ Dagger, National Honor Society, Academic Team, Wizardry 101 and Latin Club. Jain was also active in Boy Scouts of America, was a South Jersey Regional Medical Center volunteer, a political campaign intern and attended the Governor’s School of International Studies. He will attend the University of Pennsylvania and major in international studies and business. He was also accepted by Duke University, Northwestern University, Georgetown University, Boston University, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina, Rutgers and The College of New Jersey.
The other top students of the Class of 2007 include (alphabetically): Apar
Gupta, the son of Vipin and Ankan Gupta. His school activities 
include
Varsity Tennis, Varsity Wrestling, National Honor Society, National Spanish
Honor Society, Academic Team, Varsity Debate Team, Wizardry 101 and Key Club.
Gupta was also a hospital volunteer and earned an emergency medical technician
(EMT-B) certification. Gupta is also active in Boy Scouts of America, and holds
a Red Belt in Martial Arts. He will attend Boston University and major in medical
sciences in a seven-year BA/MD Program in conjunction with Boston University
School of Medicine. He was also accepted by Northwestern University, Johns
Hopkins University, University of Southern California, Villanova University,
and Pennsylvania State University.
Yin Lin is the 
daughter of De Ping Lin and Zheng Wen Qin. Her school activities
include Debate Team, Model Congress, Stage Crew, National Honor Society, French
Honor Society, Art Club and Mock Trial. Lin was an intern in the gubernatorial
campaign of Jon Corzine and was a volunteer in the 2006 Democratic Campaign.
She was also a tutor in the Golden Gates Reading program (Learn & Serve
America). She will attend Tufts University and major in Economics and Chinese.
She was also accepted by Boston College, Boston University, University of Rochester
a
nd Rutgers New Brunswick.
Gabriella Shepard is the daughter of Mark and Marcella Shepard. Her school activities include Key Club (Treasurer), Project Graduation, Cap n’ Dagger and Wizardry 101. She is also a Dansteps member at Academy of Dance. She will attend Carnegie Mellon University and major in Physics. She was also accepted to Virginia Tech, University of Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Rowan, Seton Hall, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Drexel University.
The event also included awards to high-achieving members of the junior class:
The event also featured the traditional passing of the senior class “key” from Kevin Beckford, Class of 2007 President to his successor, Rashad Bates.
VHS South top scholars: Summa Cum Laude: Stevi Anderson, Vasilios Athans, Olga Bakalenko, Lauren Banko, Kevin Beckford, Gail Bradbury, Samantha Braidi, Briana Brecht, Ling Chen, Ryan Chini, Kayla Ciancaglini, Robyn Cornatzer, James Deola, Elizabeth Di Renzo, Katina Doulis, Timothy Dovnarsky, Brittney Fallucca, Lauren Frey, Ryan Gavigan, Aimee Giaccio, Nicholas Grandi, Apar Gupta, Josiah Howard, Aneesh Jain, Sharon Jamison, Chad Justis, Inna Kucher, Vijeta Limbekar, Yin Lin, Danielle Lovisone, Noris Marchand, Alexandra Melillo, Brittney Mosley, Brittani Murray, Christopher Negron, Brittany Pantilione, Melissa Pileiro, Jessica Praul, Leticia Ramos, Zachary Rishel, Tania Rivera, Roberto Rodriguez, Rex Romano, Jason Roth, Jennifer Ruberti, Erica Russo, Christina Scrivani, Shannon Scurlock, Monica Severino, Gabriella Shepard, Cory Silvio, Sarah Song, Carolyn Soto, Daniel Spatafore, Jennifer Starr, Rachel Strittmatter, Carly Tasker, and Lindsey Wozunk.
Magna Cum Laude: Samantha Andreoli, Jeffrey Brenner, Teia Bristowe, Dija Burns, Yadid Chaniz-Rico, Jeremy Chupashko, Zachary Ciancaglini, Brittany Clendaniel, Cassandra Coney, Nikki Davis, Steven Deon, Brittany DeWoody, Catherine Ensslen, Alysha Garcia, Lauren Guglielmi, Theodora Isekenegbe, Courtney Jester, Michael Mercado, Alex Pizzo, Briana Price, Danielle Procopio, Kristin Pulman, Preeti Puri, Ivonne Ramos, Colleen Shropshire, Shijin Thomas, and Richard Tonetta.
Cum Laude: Keith Acevedo, Meghan Adorno, Marlene Almonte, Christina Ames, Kristen Amos, Joshua Arocho, Victor Baez, Brittany Beach, Natalie Bender, David Boscola, Nicole Brown, Rebecca Burden, Eric Candelario, Ashlee Capano, Samantha Capriotti, Sarah Chaudhri, Nicole Chinnici, Christopher Cobb, Barbara Colon, Yulitza Cora, Oscar Cortes, Gina Crescenzo, Jesus Cruz, Edgardo Cuba, Khatteryn Cuevas, Scott Dargis, Adriana Dilks, Stephen Echevarria, Alyssa Fantini-Varquez, Lindsey Figarole, George Figueroa, Andrew Flitcraft, Luis Franco, Chuanyang Gao, Kelly Garcia, Nayeli Garcia, Brittany Giacomelli, Matthew Giacomelli, Stephanie Gonzalez, Starlyn Gonzalez, Nicole Guzinsky, Christopher Herrera, Michelle Jenkins, Kristina Kanakis, Alyssa Karwowski, Ashley Landi, Rosamaria Lasalandra, Dana Long, Beatriz Lopez, Britton Loyden, Jessica Marcacci, Natalie Marino, Latifa McBride, Elizabeth McKenzie, Anthony Medio, Dean Monteleone, Dewan Moore, Kimberlian Ortiz, Cathy Pagden, James Patterson, Kelsey Peretti, Brandi Perez, Cesar Perez, Kathryn Petrini, Ryan Phillips, Lauren Pope, Henry Quoikapor, Mercy Raudenbush, Natasha Rivers, James Roblin, Justin Rocker, Eligio Rodriguez, Eric Rodriguez, Volodymyr Romanchuk, Rafael Rosado, Ivelisse Rosado, Liliana Ruiz, Thomas Santangelo, Lana Scapellati, Alexander Schimmel, Samantha Shaiko, Andrea Simone, Simranjit Singh, Cynthia Taylor, Antonina Ternova, Belinda Torres, Samantha Trovarelli, Donna Valles, Maria Vargas, and Little Wright.